Deportation Reversed. Cambodian Refugee Speaks about Freedom

A Cambodian refugee enjoyed his first weekend at home with his family after returning to the United States on Friday following the reversal of his deportation conviction. Phorn Tem and his lawyer spoke with AsAmNews about his deportation and the successful reversal of his conviction.

In 2011, the now 33-year-old was detained by ICE and an immigration judge ordered that he be deported to Cambodia. According to Tem’s lawyer, Melanie Kim of Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus, Cambodia was reluctant to repatriate large groups of individuals with deportation orders at the time of Tem’s conviction. Their attitude changed in 2017 when Tem was arrested again.